By Abbey on March 14, 2010
Fr. Dale Launderville, OSB presided at Eucharist this Sunday morning and did a masterful job delivering a fine homily. He spoke about the prodigal son’s brother who “did everything right” but was frustrated with his father’s love and forgiveness of his wayward brother. Fr. Dale commented that while many of us can certainly identify with the character of the prodigal son, there may be others who identify with the “good” son…those of us who try to make sure we do “everything right”. We need to always remember and be joyful that we are always loved by our Father. It takes a lifetime to fully realize our baptism into the house of the Lord! Thank you Fr. Dale for a great Lenten homily!
And since we are at pretty much the halfway point in Lent I thought that taking some pictures of the signs of spring…of the promise of Easter…might be nice. These were taken in the cloister gardens.
Peace, bpv
Posted in Br. Paul’s Photo Reflections
By Abbey on March 12, 2010
Saw the opening of the Dead Sea Scrolls at the Minnesota Science last night. Mind boggling! Scrolls of parchment that are the first known record of a number of books in the Old Testiment. No New Testiment passages, as all was written just before or at the time Jesus was walking the earth! Wonderful educational displays, artifacts, video and recordings leading up to the display of the actual scroll fragments. The large display of Saint John’s Bible pages at the end of the exhibit provided a stunning “2,000 years later” comparison/contrast to the show as well. The exhibit is well worth seeing. Here is the link for the Science Museum should you wish to read more.
http://www.smm.org/scrolls/
Peace, bpv
Posted in Uncategorized
By Abbey on March 8, 2010
Last Friday was the last day of the Alternative Spring Break Vocation Retreat. After morning prayer we went to Saint Benedict’s Monastery to listen to one of the sisters talk about what a Spiritual Director is (and isn’t!) and how the students might go about getting one. We wrapped up the session with a debriefing period. We went around the room and each participant talked about what they learned and generally thought about the retreat. It was a very moving session! For myself this was one of the richest experiences I have ever spent as a vocation director. This was a wonderful group of individuals that worked, prayed and played wonderfully together!
Thanks be to GOD!
Below are some pictures from the last day we spent at Habitat for Humanity in Saint Cloud. The organization also featured us on their own website. If you would like to check their story please click on:
http://www.cmhfh.org/pages/VolunteerSpotlight/
Reinforcing the beams in the attached garage.
Ripping out the old tile and dry wall above the kitchen counter below the cabinetry.
Removing the window casings in the living room.
Final group picture with our coordinator at the Saint Cloud Catholic Charities Food Shelf.
Posted in Br. Paul-Vincent's Vocation Diary, Uncategorized
By Abbey on March 3, 2010
After morning prayer we stopped at Saint Benedict’s Monastery and met the women and were back at the food shelf bright and early. Since we were “veterans” at this point we were able to really get busy right away! Besides taking care of a couple of pallets of miscellaneous food we also opened about 18 cases of brocolli and repacked same in fresh bread bags.
Below is a shot of one of the men stocking the vegetable cooler with our efforts!
At the end of the day we all posed with the director of the Saint Cloud Diocesan Catholic Charities Food Shelf.
Later today the men hosted the women for group Lectio and then Eucharist at Saint John’s Abbey. We then enjoyed some refreshments in the monastic guest parlor and then joined the community for dinner followed by a bit of a tour and then evening prayer. Tomorrow we will be hosted by the women at Saint Benedict’s Monastery!
Peace, bpv
Posted in Br. Paul-Vincent's Vocation Diary
By Abbey on March 2, 2010
We were at Central Minnesota Habitat for Humanity this morning helping to mix, haul and pour cement as well as pull up some flooring and generally sweep up the interior of the two level home.
That is an 80 pound bag of cement that this young SJU student is hefting into the cement mixer!
I tried to move this wheelbarrow of freshly mixed cement over to the area that we were filling pails and hauling them by hand to the lower level of the home. I couldn’t budge it! Happily this SJU man was able to scoot if off with ease. I’m happy he’s on “our side”!
This young CSB student was in charge of mixing the cement…and she was good at it!
Getting rid of old flooring strips!
S. Mary Catherine from Saint Benedict’s Monastery was not a passive bystander!
And I got to make an effort to keep the place “somewhat” tidied up!
Peace, pbv
Posted in Br. Paul-Vincent's Vocation Diary
By Abbey on March 2, 2010
S. Mary Catherine Holicky OSB of Saint Benedict’s Monastery and I are conducting an alternative spring break retreat for students of Saint Benedict’s College and Saint John’s University. Yesterday was day one and after meeting, praying the midday office and joining the Sisters for lunch we were off to Saint Cloud Catholic Charities’ food shelf. We sorted and began to shelf 5 pallets (!) of food donated by the local Coborn’s grocery stores. The final two pictures show the empty space once we had sorted through the pallets and the final picture shows some of the fellows stocking shelves. A great day!
More tomorrow!!!! Peace, bpv
Posted in Br. Paul-Vincent's Vocation Diary
By Abbey on February 27, 2010
As part of their curriculum a number of students from Saint Olaf’s College in Northfield, MN, visited the abbey today and had the opportunity to ask dozens of questions about the Rule of Saint Benedict and the life of Benedictine monks here at Saint John’s. They are a very sharp group of young people who have very fine instructers. We wish them God’s blessings always!
Above is the more “formal” picture and below is communicates the energy that these great students brought to Saint John’s Abbey. Peace, bpv
Posted in Br. Paul-Vincent's Vocation Diary, Uncategorized
By Abbey on February 26, 2010
At noon the sun streams through the lantern of the abbey church hitting the purple banner helping us in a brilliant warm way to remember to return to the Lord during this holy season of Lent.
Peace, bpv
Posted in Br. Paul’s Photo Reflections
By Abbey on February 17, 2010
The bowls of ashes from the palms from last year’s Palm Sunday ready for today’s Ash Wednesday liturgy .
The novices placed this purple banner in the sanctuary last night after evening prayer to herald the season of Lent.
Peace, bpv
Posted in Br. Paul’s Photo Reflections
By Abbey on February 13, 2010
A number of times during the year the Abbey sponsors live-in opportunities for men from Saint John’s University. The latest group came in yesterday after evening Eucharist and departed after lunch today. They enjoyed praying, dining and recreating with the community. They also enjoyed a showing of Saint John’s At 150 a video created by Br. Simon Hoa Phan O.S.B. in commeration of our recent sesquicentennial celebration. Last night the novices and juniors hosted them in viewing the opening Winter Olympic Ceremonies in the Juniorate lounge. Upon their departure all received a tee shirt with the first word of the Rule of Saint Benedict: Listen.
A great bunch of men. We wish them all God’s blessings in abundance! Peace, bpv
Posted in Br. Paul-Vincent's Vocation Diary
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